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A featured title on the 2014 Reading List of the Commandant of the Army Chaplain Center and School

A top adviser at the Joint Intelligence Task Force for Combating Terrorism argues that winning the war against Militant Islamists requires a more nuanced understanding of their ideology. His book is among the first attempts to deconstruct and marginalize al-Qaida ideology using Islamic based arguments. By clearly defining the differences between Islam, Islamist, and Military Islamist, Aboul-Enein highlights how militant Islamist ideology takes fragments of Islamic history and theology and weaves them into a narrow, pseudo-intellectual ideology to justify their violence against Muslims and non-Muslims alike. In offering a comprehensive explanation of how Militant Islamists have hijacked the Islamic religion, Aboul-Enein provides a realistic description of the militant threat, which is different and distinct from Islamist political discourse and the wider religion of Islam.

~ Praise for Militant Islamist Ideology ~

“…One of the most important books concerning the Global War on Terrorism since the war started over a decade ago…A book that every Army officer and soldier should read…Fascinating study…An important book, and one that should be read by those serving now and in the future.”

“Aboul-Enein's main points are powerful and compelling…engaging book.”

— Charleston Gazette, January 21, 2012

"Among many authors writing about militant Islam, few explain the threat in such lucid detail as Youssef Aboul-Enein does in this scholarly and provocative treatise exposing the dangers and flaws of militant Islamic ideology. Best are his controversial and thoughtful arguments describing why militant Islamic governments always will fail, why al-Qaida and the Taliban cannot ever win, and the sure signs that Osama bin Laden was a hypocrite and a coward."

CDR Youssef H. Aboul-Enein, USN, is an officer in the Navy Medical Service Corps and Middle East Foreign Officer. He currently is Adjunct Military Professor and Chair of Islamic Studies at the National Defense University. He is stationed in the Washington, DC area.

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